Manufacture of gas.



Dim-6489658; Patanted May I, 1900.

u. A. nuns. MANUFACTURED? GAS.

(llo Modal.)

fi i fil 'KTI'M -$MmW MMM- tints-an rates PATENT OFFICE.

. JESSE A. DUBBS, OF PITTSBURG,PENNSYLVANIA.-

MANUFACTURE OF GAS.

sescrr ca'riou forming part of Letters Eatent a... 648,658, aaed may 1', 19.00.

Application filed November 2, 1.899. Serial No. 736,560. (No model.)

To rzZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Jnssn A. Dumas, a citi zen of the United States, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements in the Manufacture of Gas, of which improvements the following is a specification.

The invention described herein relates to certain improvements in the manufacture-of gas, the improvements being especially applicable for the production of illuminating- One of the methods heretofore generally practiced in the production of gas consists in charging the coal into retorts, which are then closed except for the outflow of gases and subjected to a very high temperature for the distillation of the volatile constituents of the coal. 13y thismethod portions of the coal- 7.. e., the coke and t-ar-ar e not utilized in the production of gas. Another method consists in charging coal or coke into a suitable chamber,'forcing air through the charge to bring it to a state of incandescence, and then forcing steam-or steam and oil through the incandescent mass, thereby producing the gas desired. After the charge is cooled by the passage of steam it is again blasted up with air, another charge of coal added, and steam or steam and oil forced through the charge. The gas method during the blasting up is exceedingly thin and is seldom saved, so that there is a considerable loss involved in the practice of this method.-

The object of the present invention is to provide for the utilization of all of the constituents of the coal in the manufacture of gas and the production of a uniform quality of gas.

The invention is hereinafter. more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part. of .this specification, Figure l is a sectional elevation of retorts and furnace adapted to the-practice of my invention; and Fig. 2 is a transverse section, the plane of section being indicated by the line H II, Fig. 1.

In the practice of my invention the coal is charged into retoi'tsl, which are preferably constructed and arranged as is customary in produced in the practice of thismediatel y plants for illuminating-gas. Aseries of two, three, ormore pipes 2 are arranged in the retorts, adjacent to the bottoms thereof. The "portions of these pipes within the'retorts are perforated, preferably on the under side, so as to insure a diffusion of the fluids entering through the pipes and a uniform distribution torts are heated externally to such a heat- 2. e., a low red heat--as will effect and maintain a 10W incandescence--i. e., a low red heatof the coal charged into the retorts. Afterthe coal in contact with the bottom of the retort has become incandescent steam is forced in through the pipes 2, sufficient air being mixed with the steam to maintainv by the combustion of the coal a temperature of about 700 or 800 Fahrenheit in the retort. Such a temperature has been found prefer able, although 'a higher temperature-4'. e., about 1,000" Fahrenheit, moreor less--may be employed when a more rapid production of gas is, desired. .The steam and air should through a superheater, as shown at 3, to heat the mixture to a temperature of about 700 fuel. It is thought that by this high heating of the mingled steam and air an incipient disassociation of the elements of the steam is effected and that this disassociation is completed by the passage of the steam and air through the imperfectly-burning fuel, and,

further,

incipient disassociation carbonic oxid is imformed on contact of the steam and the products of combustion and that by reason of the chemical reaction which results in the formation of the carbonic oxid areduction of temperature of the gases at and beyond such point is effected, thereby prerially beyond the zone at whi ah the chemical reaction-21 e., the formation of carbonic oxid-occnrs. It will be understood that as the f uelis cousu med and'thc carbon combined with the oxygen of the steam and air com bustion will also advance to a new zone. This advance is gradual, not step by step; but the zone of combustion is maintained at an approximately-uniform depth.

n will be readily understood that as the of such fluids through the charge. These rebe thoroughly mingled and then passed Fahrenheit before being forced through the it is believed that by reason of this venting combustion from extending matevolatile constituents are driven off the gas will become poor in illuminating and formed other qualities. In order to compensate for this reduction in quality, oil may 'be forced into the air and steam prior to their passage through the superheater, and, being vaporiz'ed, pass with the air and steam through theburning fuel, thereby enriching the resulting gas.

I olaim herein as my invention-- As an improvement in the art of manufacturing gas, the method herein described,

which-consists in chargingfiiel' into a closed retort, raising said fuel to and maintaining it at an incandescent temperature by heat 15 In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JESSE A. DUBBS.

' Witnesses:

DARWIN S. WoLco'rr, F. E. GAITHER. 

